Pilates

The more you understand your body and how it functions, the better equipped you'll be at taking care of yourself to achieve optimal health. Our team of chiropractic professionals empower patients to take charge of your own health and future, educating you about your condition to decrease your need for future care. We've included the Patient Education section on our website to provide you with valuable, practical wellness information which you can incorporate into your lifestyle to improve the quality of your life. We hope you will turn to these pages whenever you have a question about health related issues and urge you to contact our practice at any time to make an appointment with one of our chiropractors.

Pilates is an exercise program named after Joseph Pilates, who developed an exercise program in the early-20th century to improve the physical fitness of World War I soldiers. Pilates incorporated resistance into programs for rehabilitating injured patients. He later incorporated springs into exercise machines, which became the foundation of the famous Pilates equipment used today.

Pilates centers on rehabilitating and strengthening key muscles involved in posture. At the heart of the Pilates program is the belief that keeping the spine in its natural, or neutral, position can help mitigate and even prevent back pain. Key components of the Pilates exercise system include:

A mental focus intended to improve movement efficiency and muscle control

Awareness of the importance of keeping the spine neutral

Breathing techniques that promote mental focusing and centering

Strengthening deep back and abdominal muscles to support posture

The Pilates equipment uses springs to create resistance. At the heart of the Pilates system is a device called the "Reformer" that consists of a sliding platform anchored at one end of its frame with springs. The platform is moved by either pulling on ropes or pushing off from a stationary bar. A second Pilates device, called the "Cadillac" consists of a padded base, over which a frame-like structure is suspended with bars, straps, and other accessories hanging down. A third Pilates device, called the Wunda Chair, is a small bench that uses a bar attached with springs. Exercises are done by pushing on the bar while either sitting or standing on the bench, or standing or lying on the floor.